Xiuxian: Start with the medicine boy

Upon receiving confirmation, Master Lü Xun's expression of shock deepened, and he murmured:
Now that you mention it...it does seem true!
It is said that the appearance of a Nascent Soul cultivator's Nascent Soul will remain constant at the youthful state it was when the cultivator condensed the Nascent Soul, and will not change with the aging of the physical body unless deliberately adjusted.

As for physical appearance, without rare items like elixirs to preserve youth, it is true that it will gradually change with the passage of time... No wonder!

Immediately, a look of great doubt and inquiry appeared on his face:

"But... Senior Luo, as the deputy head of the branch's inspection department, holds a high position and wields great power. What heinous crime did you commit?"
Or perhaps they've been caught in some terrible vortex, to the point that... to the point where they have to self-destruct their physical bodies and escape with their nascent souls?

Judging from the way he finally intervened to suppress it... Senior Luo's fate is probably...

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear.

A powerful cultivator in the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm was forced to abandon his physical body, which he had cultivated diligently for hundreds of years, in an attempt to escape using his Nascent Soul cultivation.

He was eventually captured on the spot.
The danger and cruelty behind this are chilling.

"Yes!" Master Kou Qian sighed deeply, a hint of melancholy flashing in his eyes.

“If they were not in dire straits and had no other way out, which Nascent Soul True Monarch would easily resort to such a risky move?”

Even if the nascent soul escapes by abandoning the physical body, it will suffer severe damage to its vital energy and foundation, making it extremely difficult to regain its former cultivation level or even advance further.

Senior Luo...sigh, what a pity for all those hundreds of years of arduous cultivation and renown.
One wrong move, and... the whole game is lost.

A brief silence fell over the private room.

Master Kou Qian picked up the long-cooled spiritual tea and took a sip, the bitter taste melting on his tongue.

After a long while, he shook his head and said:

"never mind,"

"The grudges and entanglements between these Nascent Soul stage experts are beyond the comprehension of us mere Golden Core cultivators, let alone our ability to intervene."

"Words can be dangerous; it's best to avoid excessive discussion."

"What fellow Taoist said is absolutely true."

Master Lü Xun nodded and composed himself.

But then he seemed to remember something, and said with a touch of emotion:
"However, having said that, Senior Luo is indeed a big shot in Chongyi Immortal City, whose every stomp of his foot shakes the city."

But if placed in the three holy cities of the human race—East Town, Sea Town, and West Town…

That's probably not even a remarkable existence anymore.

"Oh? How do you say this?"

Master Kou Qian raised an eyebrow slightly. Having lived in Chongyi Immortal City for a long time, he did not have a deep understanding of the structure of the newly established cultivator association.

Master Lü Xun explained:
"Fellow Daoist Kou Qian is unaware of this."

While the Cultivator Association's structure includes 'department-level' departments in both large immortal cities and the three holy cities, the differences between them are vast.

He paused and continued:

"In the three holy cities, the ministerial and deputy ministerial positions of the cultivator association's departments are almost exclusively held by great cultivators in the late Nascent Soul stage!"

Among them, the Hall-level departments are all overseen by Half-Saint level experts!
In large immortal cities like Chongyi, 99% of the ministers of department-level units are mid-Nascent Soul stage experts.
Most of the deputy ministers are seniors in the early stages of the Nascent Soul realm.

Just like Senior Luo, who is at the mid-Nascent Soul stage, serving as the deputy head of the patrol department.

Upon hearing this, Master Kou Qian's face showed surprise:
"Such a big difference?"
I always thought that since they were both "ministerial level" officials, their ranks should be similar.

"This is one of the essential differences between a holy city and a large immortal city."

Master Lü Xun sighed.

"Zhenhai Holy City is the fundamental stronghold of the human race, suppressing boundless territories. Its cultivator association headquarters and various palace-level institutions are all located here."

The "ministerial level" there often refers to a department directly under a higher-level department, whose jurisdiction may cover several ministerial-level departments.

"It's really true..." Master Kou Qian exclaimed, processing the information.

"I originally thought that the ministerial level in a large immortal city was already unattainable."

I never imagined that the Holy City would be such a den of dragons and tigers, a place where hidden dragons and crouching tigers lurk!
The Monks' Guild's foundation is truly unfathomable.

"Isn't this just common sense?"

Master Lü Xun laughed.

"The current Cultivator Association is a behemoth formed by integrating the power of most of the top sects, ancient immortal races, and independent cultivator giants within the human territory."

It can be said that it gathers and utilizes the best talents in the world.

Only with such formidable strength can we deter external enemies, govern our internal borders, and maintain the foundation of our human race's enduring prosperity for millennia.

"···"

the other side!
Not long after the group of semi-saints from the Law Enforcement Hall left the magnificent palace, dusk was approaching.

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled onto the glazed tiles of the palace, creating a halo of interwoven gold and red light.

It was as if the entire immortal city was shrouded in a solemn and heavy atmosphere.

Not long after.

A dark shadow appeared in the distance, gradually becoming clearer as it approached.

next moment!
Beams of spiritual light quietly appeared outside the main hall.

As the light faded, it revealed more than a dozen figures with imposing auras and terrifying power.

The leader was an extremely tall old man, almost ten feet tall.

His face was simple and unadorned, like a rock eroded by wind and rain, etched with the marks of time.

His eyes weren't particularly large, but when they opened and closed, a terrifying divine light flowed within them, as if stars and flames were being forged inside, making it impossible for anyone to look directly at them.

He wore a dark gold battle robe embroidered with ancient runes that rose and fell slightly with his breath, emanating a chilling aura.

The aura emanating from his body was extremely obscure, yet as heavy and imposing as a mountain.
Simply standing there made the surrounding space seem to freeze.

He walked straight to the majestic palace gate, then stopped and looked up at the tightly closed gate, which was woven with countless array runes, his gaze deep.

Not bad.

This was none other than Fu Wanjun, a peak half-saint level expert from the Rong Shen Immortal Sect.

He is also the head of the Conquest Hall, a highly powerful position within the Cultivator Association, responsible for external conquests and wars.

Following closely behind...

The Half-Venerable of Yaoguang Immortal Sect, a female cultivator with a cool and aloof temperament;

The Netherworld Half-Saint of the Heavenly Fire Sect, an old man with red hair;
And several other deputy hall masters from different major forces, all of whom possessed equally powerful auras and were at the Half-Saint realm.

They all stood quietly behind Fu Wanjun, their expressions solemn and their eyes sharp.

next moment.

As if sensing their arrival, the array light barrier in front of the group of half-saints in the [Conquest Hall], which seemed invisible but was actually enough to block all prying eyes below the Nascent Soul stage, rippled without warning.

At the center of the ripples, the runes rapidly reassembled and pieced together, and in an instant, a portal three zhang high with its edges flowing with azure spiritual light appeared.

The door opened silently, revealing the deep, secluded hall behind it.

At the same time, a cold, indifferent voice, both familiar and imposing, rang out.

It seemed to resonate directly within the depths of one's soul, emanating from the portal before them:

"Enter!"

It is only one word, yet it carries an unquestionable will.

Hear the words.

The group of half-saint powerhouses from the Conquest Hall, led by Fu Banzun, showed no change in expression and no sign of negligence.

Fu Wanjun took the first step, his heavy footsteps entering the halo of light around the portal, his figure instantly swallowed up.

Half-Venerable Yao Guang, Half-Venerable You Quan, and others followed without hesitation.
He strode into the palace that symbolized the highest authority of the monks' association.

The scene before my eyes changed, and the daylight and twilight outside were completely cut off.

The interior of the main hall was extremely spacious and magnificent, its height unknown. Countless luminous pearls and glowing crystals were inlaid on the walls and the dome, casting soft yet bright light upon it.
The most eye-catching feature is the throne high above at the end of the hall.

The throne was wide, with dragons and phoenixes carved on the armrests, and clouds seemed to rise from beneath it.

now,

A towering figure sat regally on the throne.

This is Cheng Buzheng, the founder and supreme ruler of the Cultivator Association, a Nascent Soul Supreme.

See this.

Fu Wanjun, Yao Guang, Youquan, and the others dared not overstep their bounds in the slightest. They immediately straightened their robes and bowed in unison towards the high platform and throne.
He performed a deep bow with utmost respect.
The sound echoed in a low voice in the hall:

"Your subordinate greets the Chairman!"

"Greetings, President!"

"..."

Cheng Buzheng, who was sitting upright on the throne, slowly opened his eyes.

In that instant, it seemed as if two invisible and intangible divine lights, yet all-seeing, swept over the people in the hall.

He didn't get up, but simply stretched out a hand and offered a tentative support.

A gentle yet overwhelming invisible force, like a spring breeze and gentle rain, spread out and instantly enveloped the people who were bowing.

Immediately, Cheng Buzheng's indifferent and calm voice clearly entered everyone's ears:

"Everyone, get up."

"Thank you, President!"

The group of semi-saints in the hall straightened up and thanked them in unison once again.

Followed by.

Fu Wanjun took a deep breath, stepped forward, bowed again, and clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice as steady as iron:
"President!"
"What brings you here today?"

As the head of the Conquest Hall, he knew that the president's personal summons was no ordinary occasion.

Upon hearing this, the gazes of the other deputy hall masters, including Yao Guang Half-Venerable and You Quan Half-Venerable, all converged on the seemingly calm yet powerful figure on the high platform throne, awaiting instructions.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Buzheng did not immediately reply.

He lowered his eyelids slightly and turned his wrist.

next moment.

A jade slip, crystal clear and seemingly with a milky white halo flowing inside, appeared in his slender palm.

The jade slip is simple and unadorned, with fine anti-peeping runes engraved on its surface.

Then, Cheng Buzheng gently raised his arm, and the jade simplified into a milky white stream of light, shooting out silently.

Extremely fast

But just as it flew to within three feet of Fu Wanjun and the other half-saints, it stopped at the perfect moment, hovering quietly in the air, emitting a faint light.

Just as these half-saints were filled with doubt, wondering what important information was contained in the jade slip that required the guild leader's personal delivery...

From the high throne, Cheng Buzheng's voice, still indifferent but now tinged with coldness, rang out:
"Take a look first."

We'll talk about other things later.

Hear the words.

The group of semi-saints felt a chill run down their spines.

They naturally understood that the guild leader's urgent summons must be closely related to the contents of this jade slip.

It could even involve an extremely serious situation.

Therefore, without any hesitation, they exchanged a glance and their minds were immediately set on something.

In an instant, several powerful and condensed divine thoughts, like tentacles, emerged from between their brows and simultaneously covered the jade slip floating in mid-air.

The moment their divine senses touched the jade slip, a torrent of information flooded into their sea of ​​consciousness.

The information did not contain any cultivation techniques or secret arts, but rather a record of one shocking incident after another involving the shattering of spiritual veins!
There were dozens of such cases.

They are geographically widespread and use various methods, but they all point to one thing: violating and undermining the "Spiritual Vein Protection Regulations".

Driven by selfish interests, they recklessly damaged the very foundation upon which the cultivation world depends—the spiritual veins!
As time passed, the divine sense finished reading.

Fu Wanjun, Yao Guang Half-Venerable, Youquan Half-Venerable, and others involuntarily frowned, their expressions becoming extremely solemn.

Followed by.

Yao Guang, the half-saint, took a step forward, her cold face covered in frost. She bowed and clasped her hands, her voice carrying a chilling killing intent:
"President!"
The events recorded in the jade slip are all blatant violations of our association's ban!
But do I really need the [Conquest Hall] to be mobilized immediately to wipe out these demons and monsters?

Before she could finish speaking, Youquan Banzun suddenly took a step forward.

A faint, scorching aura emanated from him, his red hair moved without wind, and the flames in his pupils seemed about to burst forth. His voice was like muffled thunder.
"President, you are wise to see the truth!"
These cultivators and these forces are simply audacious and utterly depraved!

Without decisive and forceful measures, it will be insufficient to deter petty criminals and uphold the authority of the regulations!
"Please give the order immediately, Master! Our [Conquest Hall] is willing to be the vanguard to eradicate these scourges that defy the heavens!"

These words were like igniting a powder keg.

The other half-saints also showed angry expressions and echoed in unison:
"good!
The "Spirit Vein Protection Regulations" are the foundation of our Cultivator Association and the first ironclad rule for maintaining long-term peace and tranquility in the cultivation world!

Knowing full well that this is an inviolable taboo, some cultivators still act out of selfishness, engaging in such short-sighted and foundation-shaking behavior!
This trend must not be allowed to continue; it must be tempered with blood to forge the unbreakable body of this prohibition!

"Fellow Daoist Youquan is absolutely right!"

If we let this incident slide or fail to punish it properly, this ban will lose all credibility and become nothing more than a piece of paper!
At that time, all parties will follow suit!

"Please give the order, Chairman!"

"Those who conquer the palace must exert their utmost strength to raze the rebel's lair, exterminate the traitors, and serve as a warning to others!"

"Exterminate the heretical cultivators! Purge the world!"

"..."

The calls to battle were resounding and powerful, filling the hall with an aura of fierce determination.

Cheng Buzheng, seated on the high platform, listened quietly to the impassioned calls for battle from His Highness's entourage, his expression remaining as calm as still water, until the voices gradually subsided.

He nodded slightly, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his indifferent eyes.

"This is also the purpose of my gathering you all here today."

His voice wasn't loud, but it instantly drowned out all the echoes and clearly reached everyone's ears.

"However," Cheng Buzheng changed the subject, his tone becoming more profound.

"The events recorded in the jade slip have far-reaching implications."

Among them are corrupt parasites within my monks' association…”

He paused, his gaze seemingly piercing through the hall, looking in a certain direction.

"I have ordered the Surveillance Hall to have young friend Xuanming personally lead the effort, with the Enforcement Hall providing full cooperation, to ensure that the matter is resolved in the shortest possible time..."
Will all internal personnel involved in the case be investigated, regardless of their position?

A thorough investigation will be conducted, and those responsible will be severely punished!

"..." (End of this chapter)